عَـٰلِمِ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ فَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ 92
Translations
[He is] Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, so high is He above what they associate [with Him].
Transliteration
Alim al-ghayb wa ash-shahādah fa ta'ālā 'ammā yushrikūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah is the Knower of both the unseen (ghayb) and the seen (shahādah)—all that is hidden from creation and all that is manifest. By establishing Allah's complete knowledge, the ayah then declares His transcendence and exaltation far above the shirk (polytheism and associating partners) that the disbelievers commit. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this serves as a powerful refutation of idolatry, as the Almighty's infinite knowledge and supremacy render impossible any legitimacy in associating partners with Him.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Mu'minun, a Meccan surah that addresses the fundamental beliefs of Islamic monotheism during the early Meccan period when polytheism was widespread. The ayah fits within the surah's broader theme of refuting shirk and establishing the oneness of Allah (tawhīd), particularly in response to the pagan Arabs' worship of idols and their claims about these deities.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim wherein the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah (shirk) while He created you' relates thematically to this ayah's condemnation of shirk. Additionally, Sahih Bukhari records the Prophet's statement about Allah's knowledge encompassing all things: 'His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that recognizing Allah's complete knowledge of all hidden and manifest realities should strengthen conviction in His oneness and protection from polytheistic beliefs. For modern Muslims, it serves as a reminder that our private thoughts and public actions are known to the All-Knowing, fostering both accountability and trust in divine wisdom.